Kenya off to South Africa for two-match series

Kenya’s national squad leaves for South Africa early today to play two one day international matches against Proteas.

Kenya go to South Africa as underdogs but they are capable of causing a surprise because in a one day game anything is possible.

Currently the team is not in its best form as a number of senior players are going through a bad patch and the young ones have not yet found their grip.

The youngsters came into the side without going through the ranks as Kenya does not have development structures which could carter for the up coming players.

Seren Waters is the latest player to be capped. He batted well in the four-day International Cricket Council Intercontinental Cup against Ireland where he top scored for Kenya with 75 runs.

But the team relies heavily on the performance of skipper Steve Tikolo.

Tikolo’s century steered the team to a 95 runs win against Zimbabwe in the just concluded one day international triangular series at the Nairobi Gymkhana.

Heavy loss

Kenya reached the series final courtesy of Ireland who suffered a heavy loss in the hands of Zimbabwe who beat them by 156 runs.

That spoilt their run rate and although they had beaten Kenya by 86 runs they could not play in the final. However, the final match was called off as the ground was unplayable.

The South African tour could be the last major assignment for Kenya before the next year’s ICC trophy which will be used as a qualifier for the 2011 World Cup to be jointly hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.